Azerbaijan State Museum of History
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijan State Museum of History is the largest museum
of Azerbaijan
, located in Baku
, in the former mansion of Azerbaijani oil magnate and philanthropist
Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
. It was founded in 1920.
-style mansion is immense and takes up an entire city block. There are four floors in some parts of the building. It was designed by Polish architect Józef Gosławski.
When the Red Army entered Baku in 1920, Taghiyev's residence - like that of other wealthy oil barons - was immediately confiscated. Under a resolution of the USSR People's Commissariat, the residence was established as a museum in June 1920, only a few months after the Bolsheviks took Baku.
) style and the other, on Occidental
design. The Oriental Room has enormous plate glass windows, gilded arches, highly ornamental walls, ceilings and chandeliers. The lines in the Occidental Room are more perpendicular to each other - rectangular.
According to photographs that are about 90 years old, one of the most elaborate rooms was Taghiyev's wife's boudoir
(private sitting room). All of the movable furniture and paintings in this room have disappeared. Nothing remains today except the ornate mirrored mosaic
ceiling. During the Soviet period, four layers of white paint were applied over the highly decorative floral designs on the walls. Still in the main halls of the residence, the original paint has withstood the passage of time incredibly well. The paint was made of finely ground egg shell as was the practice of artists of Byzantine
icons. Nearly 100 years later, the original colors with their subtlety and sophistication have neither faded nor chipped.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, located in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, in the former mansion of Azerbaijani oil magnate and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
Hajji Zeynalabdin Taghi oglu Taghiyev was an Azeri national industrial magnate and philanthropist.-Early life:...
. It was founded in 1920.
History
The building of the Museum was built in 1893-1902. The Italian RenaissanceItalian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
-style mansion is immense and takes up an entire city block. There are four floors in some parts of the building. It was designed by Polish architect Józef Gosławski.
When the Red Army entered Baku in 1920, Taghiyev's residence - like that of other wealthy oil barons - was immediately confiscated. Under a resolution of the USSR People's Commissariat, the residence was established as a museum in June 1920, only a few months after the Bolsheviks took Baku.
Architecture
On the second floor of Taghiyev's residence, side by side there are two major ballrooms. One is based on Oriental designs (MauritanianMauritanian
Mauritanian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Mauritania, a country in northwest Africa.* A person from Mauritania, or of Mauritanian descent. For information about the Mauritanian people, see Demographics of Mauritania....
) style and the other, on Occidental
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
design. The Oriental Room has enormous plate glass windows, gilded arches, highly ornamental walls, ceilings and chandeliers. The lines in the Occidental Room are more perpendicular to each other - rectangular.
According to photographs that are about 90 years old, one of the most elaborate rooms was Taghiyev's wife's boudoir
Boudoir
A boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to be sulky" or boudeur, meaning "sulky".- In architecture :...
(private sitting room). All of the movable furniture and paintings in this room have disappeared. Nothing remains today except the ornate mirrored mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
ceiling. During the Soviet period, four layers of white paint were applied over the highly decorative floral designs on the walls. Still in the main halls of the residence, the original paint has withstood the passage of time incredibly well. The paint was made of finely ground egg shell as was the practice of artists of Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
icons. Nearly 100 years later, the original colors with their subtlety and sophistication have neither faded nor chipped.
Departments
The museum has more than 2000 exhibits and includes the following departments:- Modern history department
- Ethnography department
- Department of ancient and medieval history of Azerbaijan
- Scientific excursion department
- Laboratory for restoration of museum exhibits
- Fund of Numismatics: Including the collection of Yevgeni PakhomovYevgeni PakhomovYevgeni Alexandrovich Pakhomov was a Russian, Georgian and Azerbaijani numismatist and archaeologist and a recognized authority in the numismatics of the Caucasus....
- Art design group
- Library